New Whole Life Carbon Benchmarking Study and Built Environment Competence Hub

New sustainability developments, including data-driven research and new organisational support, continue to champion the construction industry’s path to Net Zero.

Future Homes Hub shares new insights into UK homebuilding embodied carbon performance

The Future Homes Hub has released its Whole Life Carbon (WLC) Benchmarking Study for 2025, addressing a critical knowledge gap in the UK homebuilding industry. For the first time, this study provides a vital, empirically grounded evidence base on the embodied carbon performance of new low-rise housing, guiding the sector’s collective transition to net zero.  

The study’s core purpose is to create a robust snapshot of current carbon performance by analysing 48 detailed Whole Life Carbon assessments submitted by 17 industry partners. To ensure consistency, credibility, and comparability across the dataset, all assessments adhere to the rigorous standards outlined in the WLC Conventions for New Homes and RICS Professional Standard 2nd edition.  

The top-level average (mean) carbon intensity metrics for new homes, derived from the entire dataset, are as follows:  

• Upfront Carbon: 406 kgCO₂e/m²  
• Whole Life Embodied Carbon: 611 kgCO₂e/m²  

The Future Homes Hub’s key priorities for the industry include:  

• Expand Scope: Develop robust methods to capture the significant carbon impacts of site preparation and infrastructure, which were excluded from this initial analysis.  
• Improve Data Accuracy: Enhance the Hub’s component benchmarks, particularly for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems and renewables, and champion the widespread adoption of product-specific EPDs.  
• Integrate Uncertainty Factors: Improve understanding of WLC uncertainty factors and support integration of these into assessments (up to 15% at early stages) to ensure benchmarks reflect realistic, rather than purely theoretical scenarios. 
• Catalyse the Supply Chain: Support manufacturers in developing EPDs and help homebuilders benefit from specifying verified low-carbon materials already on the market.  

ICSG and BSI launch Built Environment Competence Hub

The Built Environment Competence Hub is being launched by the British Standards Institution in collaboration with the Industry Competence Steering Group to bring industry together to engage on competence and share best practice.

This group is for anyone involved in or interested in competence within the construction and built environment sector, including professionals in design, construction, manufacturing and supply, building management, regulatory roles, education and training, professional bodies, and others with an interest in building safety and industry standards.

The hub is currently welcoming pre-registrations ahead of its January 2026 launch. Find out more information: https://competence.bsigroup.com/